Big wheel for the Big Apple

Heavy lift and specialized transport company Mammoet has started work on the construction of the New York Wheel project, New York, USA.

The project is being carried out by Mammoet-Starneth LLC, a joint venture between Dutch engineering company Starneth BV and Mammoet. Mammoet is contracted to engineer the project and will be erecting around 10,000 tonnes of steel.

The New York Wheel is being built on the north-eastern side of Staten Island (St George). It will be 190.5 metres tall and have 36 pods that can each carry up to 40 people. Each ride is due to last approximately 38 minutes.

Work on the foundations for the wheel began in May 2015 and construction of the wheel is expected to start in April 2016.

Richard Marin, New York Wheel LLC president and CEO, said, “We are pleased to have such a competent heavy lifting and wheel erection partner such as Mammoet working with us on this important project. Their experience and expertise are invaluable to the project overall.”

Jelmar de Vries, Mammoet USA managing director, said, “It is with a sense of great pride that Mammoet is taking on the New York Wheel project. It is always a privilege to work on projects like this which leave their mark on a city’s skyline.”

The wheel should be completed in 2017 and is expected to attract as many as 30,000 visitors per day and an estimated 4 million a year.